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'Wall of Death' motorbike rider Doug 'Mile-away' Murphy
OUR picture this week was given to me recently by the last Mayoress of Colne and, indeed, one of Colne's very last telephonists who worked at the town's exchange (which closed in 1970) above the post office in Albert Road.
The lady in question is the well-known and likeable Jean Ilott, and the signed photo Jean kindly gave me is of the legendary "Wall of Death" motorbike rider Doug "Mile-away" Murphy.
Doug was a wonderful character who had travelled the world as he performed hair-raising stunts as an acclaimed "wall of death" rider.
His technical skill and sheer jaw-dropping bravery saw him playing the huge wall of death venues in America, Mexico, Hawaii and many countries throughout Europe.
When Doug returned to Colne on his retirement, he made his home in Spring Lane, naming his cottage "Shalom", which is the Hebrew greeting meaning "peace".
Doug was a most amiable and sincere person who had a marvellous fund of stories of his exploits round the world.
Around Spring Lane, Doug was a familiar sight on one or other of his wall of death bikes and, some 25 years ago, the late, much-missed journalist John Jackson and myself went to interview Doug for this very newspaper.
John was a master interviewer and soon had Doug telling of a fearful episode when performing in Japan on the Pacific island of Okinawa.
Here, Doug had been riding an enormous wall of death cylinder for over two-and-a-half-hours and the fanatical Japanese crowd were screaming for more stunts.
By now, Doug was ready for a breather and called down for the cylinder door to be opened.
The huge crowd went berserk and Doug swept out of the cage as coins and bottles were thrown at him!
Now came Doug's great escape as he got his bike up to full revs and took off, Steve McQueen-style, over the arena's 10ft high wall.
Doug never went back to the fearsome stadium.
Also at his home in Spring Lane, Doug had an unusual, unrideable push bike, which if you turned the handlebars to go right, the bike would go left. Turning left, the bamboozling bike would go to the right.
Both John and myself had a go on the trick cycle, but to no avail. I managed around 10ft before crashing onto the ground, whereas John rode the bike halfway up Spring Lane until a right turn sent him rolling and laughing down the hill.
Back during those days, all the children down our street tried to ride Doug's magic bike - my own son Shaun and daughter Janette, Joanne Johnson, Gary Storey, Lindsey Bradley, Peter Emmott and Joanne Pickup all had a go, but no one ever rode Doug's unrideable bike!
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Weather for Pendle
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: 0 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
